JERUSALEM (Diya TV) — Monday marked the first anniversary of the heinous attack by Hamas in October 2023 as attacks continue to rise between Israeli forces and militants from Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his citizens commemorated the day to remember the memories with ceremonies conducted due to the spreading of fighting that now involves Hezbollah and other militant groups across the region.
Hamas, the militant group controlling Gaza, marked its anniversary day with rocket attacks on Tel Aviv. The assault was a reminder of the war that has brought about heavy casualties to both parties for over a year. Since the surprise initial attack wherein over 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, were killed and more than 250 abducted, Israeli forces have retaliated with perhaps one of the most intense military campaigns in Gaza’s history.
Israeli airstrikes within Gaza have killed over 41,000 Palestinians in the past year, the officials said, displacing hundreds of thousands and leaving large parts of the territory in ruin.
Despite the casualties, Hamas still seems to possess resilience since it has been able to come back and launch major attacks, such as those launched on Monday.
In the meantime, a pro-Iran militia group, Hezbollah, based in southern Lebanon, has carried out several attacks at Israeli targets over the past year in support of Hamas. The Israeli military has increased its bombing campaign against southern Lebanon as it claimed to have executed over 120 strikes in one hour Monday.
The intensity of violence has wrought extensive civilian casualties among the first responders of the country, as well as mass departure for Lebanese residents.
The conflict has spilled over beyond Lebanon and Gaza borders because Iran is backing both Hamas and Hezbollah. Such a move by Tehran encourages more regional conflict. Just a few months ago, American soldiers in Syria and Iraq were attacked by Iranian-backed militias.
Divisions between the country’s people were also mentioned through the two big commemoration ceremonies in Israel. One was in Jerusalem led by Netanyahu, where a state ceremony was held. Another ceremony was held in Tel Aviv, initiated by families of victims and hostages still in Gaza, protesting the government handling of the security failures that led to the attacks and the slow improvement in releasing captives.
As the war in Gaza continues, attempts at a ceasefire have stalled, and it’s probable that most of the 100 hostages thought to be alive are being held hostage. Throughout central Israel, the sound of sirens filled the air as rockets fired from Gaza and even a missile from Yemen’s Houthi rebels were intercepted during the ceremonies.
With no apparent end in sight, Israel remains burdened with continuing to ensure the securing of its borders and returning its citizens to freedom from captivity, while the war’s toll is mounting daily within Gaza and beyond.